Railroad semaphore-signal



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS L. CHAPMAN,y OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

RAILROAD SEMAPHORE-SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Application tiled December 16, 1887. Serial No. 258.133. (Se model.)

.T0 all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that l, THOMAs L. CHAPMAN,

.otBichrnond, in the county of Henrico and Fig. 3 is a plan view ofthe same with the lamp removed. y Y

This invention relates to improveinentsl in railway-switch signals, its objects being toproduce a signal that can be automatically operated from theswitch-rail, and in which the danger-semaphores can be clearly displayed when desired, and at other times will be entirely hidden or covered by the `white or all-right 7 v semaphores.

To these ends the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter described, illustrated in the drawings, and concisely stated in t-he claims hereto appended.

lReferring to the accompanying drawings b letter, A designatesa supporting` post, upon the upper end of which are mounted the diametrically-opposite danger-semaphores B B by means of brackets b b, suitably secured to the post and sem aphores by bolts or otherwise. The said semaphores are secured on post A to face, respectively, up and down the main track.

C is a vertical rod running up one face of post A, and held thereon by straps c, or other convenient means. This rod extends above the top of post A and above semaphores B B,

PatentvNo, 381,333, dated April 1'7l 1888.;

stand farther from rod C than semaphores B',

tated. The upperedges ofsemaphores EE have preferably inwardly-standing flanges e eol' sufiicient width to extend over the upper edges in Fig. 2, which is the normal position ofthe signal. of einders and snow and ice between the semachoked or the semaphore B defaced. On the upper end of rod 0 is suitably mounted' a lantern, F, which has lights or eyesff, corresponding to the lsemaphores B and E in Fig. 1. G, which has opening g in it on opposite sides corresponding with semaphores B. This hood is supported by a bracket-arm, H, upon post A, as shown. Hood G and semaphores Bare stationary with post A 5 but semaphores E and lantern F are movable with rod G. The white phores E.

The rod C is preferably connected with the that it willl be operated automatically by the same upon opening or closing the switch. When the switch is opened, the signal shows, as seeny in Fig. 1, the danger-semaphores betern Fshowing through the openinggin hood G. When the switch is closed, the rod C is and the lantern is simultaneously shifted to show White lights f. To insure the return of the semaphores E to the position shown in Fig. 1, I propose in some instances employing a spring to control the movement of rod C, which spring might be mounted on the rod 5k but I preferably mount it as shown in Fig` 3, in which a spring, I, is suspended between one pair of semaphores B and E, so that it will be position shown in Fig. 2, and will assist in the position shown in Fig. 1, or to dangen77 Having described my invention, I claim-,-

supporting-post with two movable all-right and are adapted to move in, front of the latter,-

as shown in Fig. 2, when rod C is properly rou This lantern is surroundedl by a'hood,

lights in said lantern stand in line with ,sema

switch mechanism in any proper manner, so-

l. In a signal, the combination of two oppo#l site fixed danger-semaphores mounted upon a' of semaphores B B when in the position shown f These flanges e prevent the entrance" i phores, so that the signal will'not become ing disclosed, and the danger-lights f of. lanturned, shifting therewith the semaphores El I A E, which entirely cover the semaphores B B,

tensioned when the signal is shifted to the i causing the signal when released to return 4to IOO semaphores corresponding in size tothe fixed semaphores and mounted upon a vertical rod,

and movable to rotate horizontally therewith,

whereby they can be shifted so as to cover 5 the danger-semaphores, all constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a signal, the combination, with the supporting-post and opposite fixed semaphores thereon, of the movable semaphores mounted upon a rod secured to said post, adapted to be shifted to cover the said semaphores, and the lantern mounted on said rod and its hood mounted on said post, all constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination, with the opposite fixed semaphores mounted upon a supportingpost, of the movable vertical rod on said post, and the opposite semaphores mounted on said rod by proper brackets and adapted to be shifted by said rod to cover said xed semaphores and having inwardly-standing flanges on their up per edges, substantially as and for the purpose 25 described.

4. In a railway-signal, the combination,with the supporting post having opposite semaphores, B, mounted on brackets secured thereto and bent on arcs of a horizontal circle, of the vertical operating-rod secured to said post 3o and having diametrically-opposite brackets secured thereto above semaphores B, and carrying on their outer ends the semaphores E, bent von arcs of a circle having rod C as its center,

THOMAS L. CHAPMAN.

Witnesses:

J. T. SMITH, WV. J. HALLER. 

